Addressing the meeting, the Collector emphasized the need to identify children who have dropped out of school for three consecutive years and facilitate opportunities for them to pursue higher education. She also directed officials to conduct awareness programmes in all government, government-aided, and private middle, high, and higher secondary schools in the district on topics such as protection of children from sexual offences, mental health, prevention of violence against children, self-confidence building, and prevention of substance abuse.
The Collector noted that Child Protection Committee meetings are being conducted across all 306 village panchayats, 14 blocks, 23 town panchayats, three municipalities, and one corporation in the district. She instructed that meetings be held once every three months, or whenever necessary, under the leadership of the committee chairperson, with periodic reports submitted on activities and outcomes.
In view of World Literacy Day on September 8, she directed officials to organize village-level Child Protection Committee meetings in all 306 panchayats to strengthen child welfare initiatives.
To ensure child safety in urban areas, Child Protection Committees have also been established in all 48 wards of the municipal corporation, 75 wards across three municipalities, and 363 wards in 23 town panchayats. These committees are required to meet monthly or as needed, under the leadership of ward councillors, with reports submitted through school headmasters serving as executive members.
The Collector further instructed officials to conduct quarterly surveys in key locations to identify vulnerable children, adolescent labourers, child beggars, bonded labourers, and street children, and to provide them with appropriate rehabilitation support.
She also called for the identification of children who have lost both parents or are living under difficult circumstances, including those with a deceased parent and another parent who is physically or mentally unwell, imprisoned, suffering from life-threatening illnesses, or who has abandoned the child. Such children should be assisted in continuing their education through a monthly financial assistance of ₹2,000.
Additionally, the Collector directed that children benefiting under the Anbukkarangal Scheme be provided with quarterly medical check-ups through camps conducted at block-level primary health centres.
The meeting was attended by Joint Director (Medical Services) Dr. S. Bharathi, Additional Superintendent of Police S. K. Ramesh, District Child Protection Officer P. Sathyanarayanan, District Social Welfare Officer S. Caroline Selvarani, and other senior government officials.